The Office of Development Effectiveness: 10 years on

Australia’s overseas aid program operates in complex and challenging environments.

The Office of Development Effectiveness (ODE) seeks to deepen our understanding of what works and what doesn’t in these different contexts. ODE conducts and publishes evaluations and assessments of aid quality to help our aid deliver better outcomes for the poor and for Australia’s national interests.

ODE’s early years

ODE was an initiative of the 2006 Aid White Paper Promoting growth and stability.

The Independent Evaluation Committee (IEC) oversees ODE and serves to enhance the independence and quality of ODE’s work. Mr Jim Adams, a former vice-president of the World Bank, chairs the IEC. The IEC also assures and endorses ODE’s assessment of the annual Performance of Australian aid report.

By the end of 2016, ODE had published 45 evaluation and performance reports, and monitored the implementation of its recommendations across Australian aid policies and investments.

ODE’s work has covered Australia’s bilateral aid partners, multilateral and non-government organisations, and has spanned sectors from health and education through to infrastructure and aid for trade.

“I congratulate ODE for twice winning the Australasian Evaluation Society Award for Best Public Sector Evaluation.

ODE’s work plays an intrinsic role in DFAT’s efforts to identify what is working and what is not, and to build on successful aid approaches.”

The Hon Julie Bishop MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs

ODE today

ODE’s three main functions are to:

monitor the quality of DFAT’s performance assessment system

support evaluations undertaken by DFAT program areas

commission and undertake major evaluations.

ODE and the IEC oversee implementation of the DFAT Aid Evaluation Policy. Released in November 2016, this policy seeks to increase the quality, transparency and relevance of aid evaluations conducted by DFAT. Steps include the publication of an annual Aid Evaluation Plan covering aid evaluations conducted across DFAT.

“Through its evaluations, ODE demonstrates the value of what we do in some of the most politically unstable and economically weak environments in the world, and recommends how we can improve.”

ODE’s evaluations have contributed to more productive relationships with our multilateral partners. ODE’s Banking our aid evaluation (2014) examined Australia’s project funding to the World Bank and Asian Development Bank between 2005-06 to 2012-13 covering a total value of $4.1 billion. This evaluation led to a renewed emphasis within DFAT on ensuring staff are well-prepared for partnerships with the multilateral development banks and informed donor-wide changes to funding arrangements with the World Bank.

“The Banking our Aid evaluation was well regarded by the US State Department for its quality and relevance. The evaluation served to inform our thinking and planning of our own assessment and evaluation of the multilateral development banks.”

Eileen A. Cronin, Chief, Evaluation and Aid Effectiveness, US Department of State

“We found the (Banking Our Aid) report balanced and insightful in its assessment of trust fund contributions to the World Bank Group.”

Joachim von Amsberg, Vice-President, Development Finance, World Bank

Preventing violence against women

ODE’s Violence against women in Melanesia and East Timor report [PDF 1.1 MB] (2008) drew on consultations with more than 700 stakeholders from government, NGOs and communities in five countries. Those consulted confirmed that violence against women was severe and pervasive in the region. But there was little published, quantitative research. Many survivors felt sensitive, or even ashamed, about discussing the violence they had suffered. ODE’s report allowed those providing support to understand more deeply the extent of gender-based violence and the harm it causes. The report provided the framework for the Government’s Stop violence response (2009) with an evidence-based action plan that focused on three goals: improving women’s access to justice; increasing women’s access to quality support services; and preventing gender-based violence.

More recent ODE evaluations, such as on support for women’s leadership (2015) and economic empowerment (2014), continue to inform Australia’s evidence-based approach to gender equality. ODE will commence a follow-up evaluation this year on the effectiveness of our support to address violence against women and girls.

“The ODE report was a turning point. ... Knowledge really is powerful—and can be used to great effect to change policies, get political commitment and ultimately achieve better outcomes for women and girls experiencing violence.”

Australia has a leadership role in preparing for and responding to crises in the Pacific, one of the most natural disaster-prone regions in the world. A soon to be released evaluation of Australia’s response to Vanuatu’s Cyclone Pam will provide recommendations to enhance our response to future disasters in the Pacific.

“ODE’s evaluations of the Syria and Horn of Africa responses provide valuable insight into how Australia, and the world, can help lessen the loss and suffering of the millions currently trapped by protracted, conflict-ridden crises.”

Penny Hawkins, former Head, Evaluation Unit, UK Department for International Development

Looking ahead

In 2017 ODE will publish evaluations on Australia’s aid support in the following key areas:

pandemics and emerging infectious diseases

climate change assistance

disability inclusiveness

electoral systems strengthening.

Further, ODE will oversee the implementation of the annual Aid Evaluation Plan. These evaluations and ODE’s performance work will continue to guide Australia’s aid and build the evidence base for effective development.